The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-08-18
System on the F arm.

IA Planter In y. &. Bulletin for July.l
The cause Of hard times among far
mers is not high taxes or what they
bay the preacher, not fault of their
member Of the Legislature, or Of their
wives, who do more work every twelve
months than the best man servant on
the plantation; not frcshets, droughts,
killing frosts or insects, which often
disturb the little halfd0ne work con-
tinually gong on even on the best ar
ranged farms-no, none of these. 1t
is the lack of system in the business of
farming among land owners.
Who can succeed, or is success to
be found where there is no system?
You hear the land owner complain !;
the common ignorant white man and
the negro complain Of hard times.
Each accuse the other Of not having
done his duty, and, to q certain ex
tent, the accusation is correct But
really the starting point for hard times
is in the so-callcd intelligent land
owner. He lacks system in his bust
ness from beginning to end. System
makes heavy loads light, it inspires
confidence, brings about obedience
and respect from those who are de-
pendent upon the good citizens for
homes and employment, When we
secure those things, then are We ready
to be rid of the internal nuisance of
always crying hard times.
In the first place, we cannot educate
everybody. The majority will not
accept it even if it is offered them, and
so long as agriculture is business, we
will to a great extent have to contend
with an element of labor destitute of
intelligence and order. In every sue
ceSsful enterprise you tihd there a man
capable Of furnishing and enforcing a
system, one of his own, or he adopts
one of his neighbours who in the same
line and with the same capital has
made it profitable, and until such is
the case on our farms we may continue
to carry posted on our backs the large
black letters, " Poor Old Farmer"
Now, we can't afford to live as we
have been living for the past twenty
years. We go in debt at it; it is not
respectable. Besides it is injustice to
white and black, who are compelled
to work for support and start III life.
A poor system is better than none
(most of us have none), but can't we
have 4 good one? We have money
and courage enough left, if applied
and directed under 4 good system of
farming, to soon be independent But
to keep our usual gait means destruc-
ton.
One or two farmers can't do what
is TO be done in this direction; in a
measure, 1t will take us all. We must
unite. In the first place, own your
land, and if you have more than YOU
can bring TO a high state of cultiva-
ton, and don't care to sell, put some
man on it who can show a certificate
from his last employer stating that he
is faithful and obedient, and allow him
to know even by passing through your
neighDorhoOd that you, with the bal
ance of your neighbors, are fair and
honest, but determined and progress
i've, and that not a moments time is
to be wasted and the pay he receives
must be earned. Then put into this
tenants hands method by which on
that land he can expect good crops
and improve your land every year.
10 make the above merely an I'M
Outstanding or contract with tenant
On the first day Of January is NOT
worth the time you spend in naming
over what is required. You or corr
petent agents PERSONAL attention must
be there three-fourths of the time.